Sarasota on the Strait and narrow

Cody Strait belted a grand slam and drove in five runs overall as Sarasota defeated host Vero Beach, 9-6, on Sunday.

Strait had an RBI single as the Reds (1-3) scored twice in the top of the first inning.

After walks to Eric Eyman, Gerardo Cabrera and Michael DeJesus loaded the bases in the second, the 24-year-old right fielder smacked his second homer of the year to left to give the Reds a 6-0 lead.

Jeremiah Piepkorn also went deep for Sarasota, ripping his sixth home run with a man aboard in the seventh.

Robert Manuel (5-2) allowed one run on three hits, striking out three and walking one over 2 1/3 innings to pick up the win in relief. Derrik Lutz tossed a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.

Starter Ben Jukich gave up five runs on four hits in 3 1/3 frames.

Jackson Brennan and Christopher Cunningham had two hits and two RBIs apiece for the Devil Rays (3-1).

Michael Wlodarczyk (4-3) surrendered six runs on four hits, fanning three and walking four in two innings for the loss.